In "The Night Face Up" by Julio Cortázar, the story intricately weaves two parallel plots: one set in the modern, real world where the protagonist is a man experiencing a motorcycle accident and the other in a dream-like, surreal setting where he finds himself as an Aztec Indian being sacrificed. This dual narrative structure creates a sense of uncertainty through several key elements:
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Reality vs. Dream: The contrast between the hospital setting and the Aztec world blurs the line between what is real and what is imagined. As readers, we are led to question the reliability of the protagonist's perceptions, creating doubt about which reality is the "true" one.
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Shifting Perspectives: The abrupt shifts between the two plots create an unsettling feeling. Just when the reader begins to invest in one reality, the narrative shifts to the other, intensifying the sense of confusion and dislocation.
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Narrative Technique: Cortázar employs a stream-of-consciousness style that often intermingles sensory details and thoughts between the two settings. This stylistic choice further complicates the separation of the two realities, leading readers to grapple with their interpretations of the events.
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Interconnected Themes: Both plots deal with themes of fate, mortality, and the nature of existence. The protagonist's journey in both realities forces readers to confront the idea of entrapment within their own life circumstances, which adds to the overall ambiguity.
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Climactic Twist: The ending reveals the shocking truth that the protagonist's life as an Aztec is the more authentic existence, while his life in the modern world is the illusion. This twist heightens the uncertainty, leaving readers reeling from the implications of identity and reality, forcing them to reassess everything that came before.
Through these techniques, Cortázar masterfully crafts a narrative that ultimately leaves the reader questioning the nature of reality itself, enhancing the story's depth and complexity.
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